Kazakhstan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Akan Rakhmetullin (3rd R), France's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Nicolas de Riviere (4th R), and permanent representatives to the United Nations of the five new non-permanent members of the UN Security Council attend a flag installation ceremony at the UN headquarters in New York, on Jan. 2, 2024. Algeria, Guyana, South Korea, Sierra Leone and Slovenia began their roles as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Xie E)

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 2-- Algeria, Guyana, South Korea, Sierra Leone and Slovenia began their roles as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council on Tuesday.

Their two-year term officially commenced on Monday. However, Tuesday is the first working day of the council for 2024, following the Christmas and New Year holiday break.

A flag installation ceremony was held to mark the start of their responsibilities.

The five newly elected members have replaced the non-permanent members of Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, and the United Arab Emirates for the 2024-2025 period.

The Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations, Nicolas de Riviere, who has taken over the presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of January, welcomed the news members to the Security Council.

"Sitting in the Security Council is both an honor and responsibility, especially at a time when regional crises are multiplying, particularly the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Africa. We are looking forward to working with you for the two coming years, to implement the mandate of this council, preserving international peace and security, and to defend multilateralism respectful of the values of the UN Charter," the Security Council president said.

Guyana's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Carloyn Rodrigues-Birkett, promised that Guyana will be one of the "leading voices" in the council to ensure that peace and security are maintained across the world.

The Security Council has 15 members, five of which -- Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States -- are permanent ones. The 10 non-permanent seats of the council are allocated by geographic region, with five replaced each year.

The Security Council is considered to be the most powerful body of the United Nations. The council, which is tasked to maintain international peace and security, can make legally binding decisions and has the power to impose sanctions and authorize the use of force against states. ■

Guyana's permanent representative to the United Nations Carloyn Rodrigues-Birkett speaks at a flag installation ceremony at the UN headquarters in New York, on Jan. 2, 2024. Algeria, Guyana, South Korea, Sierra Leone and Slovenia began their roles as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council on Tuesday.